Updates on Hector Romero & Bo McCalebb in their Road to the 2012 Olympic Games
FIBA South American Championships Schedule - Venezuelan National Team
Preliminary Round
June 18 - Venezuela 86-61 Chile
June 19 - Argentina 90-87 Venezuela
June 20 - Venezuela 101-66 Columbia
Knockout Round
June 21 - Venezuela 86-70 Brazil (semifinals)
June 22 - Argentina 79-56 Venezuela (championship game)
Romero, Venezuela Finish as FIBA South American Runner-Up
CHACO, Argentina (June 22, 2012) - University of New Orleans alum Hector Romero scored a team-high 12 points for the Venezuelan national team in a 79-56 loss to Argentina on Friday night in the FIBA South American championship game.
The second-place finish for the Venezuelan national team was their best showing since 1997. By virtue of their results, the squad qualified for the 2013 FIBA Americas championship, which will serve as a qualifying event for the 2014 FIBA World Championships.
Venezuela trailed by just two points entering the second quarter of play before the Olympic-bound Argentina squad outscored them 20-9 to jump out to a 13-point advantage entering the break. The lead only grew as the host Argentina outscored Venezuela in each of the last two periods.
Facundo Campazzo led all scorers with 15 points while Aregentina's Marcos Mata pulled down seven rebounds.
Next for Romero and the Venezuelan national team squad is the 2012 FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament to be held in their native country beginning July 2nd and running through July 8th. Romero's team will face Nigeria and Lithuania in 'pool play' with fellow Privateer Bo McCalebb directing Macedonia in another group.
Romero, Venezuela Bounce Brazil to Earn Title Game Berth
CHACO, Argentina (June 21, 2012) - Former University of New Orleans standout Hector Romero and the Venezuelan national team will compete for a FIBA South American championship on Friday after defeating Olympic-bound Brazil 86-70 on Thursday night.
Romero scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds in 15 minutes of play for the Venezuelans, who will play in the FIBA South American championship game for the first time since 1997.
David Cubillan and Axiers Sucre scored 21 points apiece for Venezuela, which also received 16 points from New Orleans guard Greivis Vasquez.
The Venezuelan national team led by six points at the half and made their move in the third quarter, outscoring the Brazilian squad by nine points over the 10-minute period. Brazil was led by Vitor Alves, who netted 20 points.
The winner of Argentina and Uruguay will await Venezuela in the championship contest. Argentina defeated Venezuela earlier in the tournament and has competed in the medal round of the event each time since 1969.
Romero, Venezuela Punch Ticket to FIBA South American Championship Semis
CHACO, Argentina (June 20, 2012) - Former University of New Orleans standout Hector Romero was one of the eight players on the Venezuelan roster to score at least nine points in a convincing 101-66 victory over Columbia on Wednesday in the 2012 FIBA South American championships.
The victory by Venezuela (2-1) clinched second place in group 'A' of the tournament, earning the side a berth against 'Group B' winner Brazil. In addition, all four semifinal participants have earned a spot in the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, which serves as the FIBA Americas qualifier for the 2014 World Championships.
Jose Vargas led all Venezuelan scorers with 14 points. New Orleans Hornets guard Greivis Vasquez was one of four players with 11 points while Romero netted nine points.
Venezuela shot 58.9 percent as a team compared to 38.6 percent for Columbia (0-3). The victors jumped out to a 31-10 lead after the opening half and only built on their lead as 12 different players scored.
The contest against Brazil will take place on Thursday, June 21st. The other semifinal will feature Argentina and the winner of a game between Uruguay and Paraguay scheduled for later Wednesday.
Romero, Venezuela Fall to Olympic-Bound Argentina at FIBA Event
CHACO, Argentina (June 19, 2012) - Venezuela faces Columbia in a "must win" game on Wednesday afternoon after falling 90-87 to Argentina in the FIBA South American basketbal championships on Tuesday night.
New Orleans Hornets guard Greivis Vasquez fouled out in the final minutes of the contest, but not before scoring a game-high 26 points for the Venezuelans, who dropped to 1-1 in the tournament. Argentina (2-0) clinched passage to the knockout round behind the 18-point effort by Leonardo Gutierrez that included a game-winning three-pointer with one second on the clock..
Venezuela held a four-point lead at the half before the host nation gained control in the third quarter.
Former UNO standout Hector Romero netted double-figures for a second straight gain, scoring 10 for the Venezuelans to go with four rebounds.
Columbia is 0-2 entering Wednesday's contest after setbacks to both Argentina and Chile. A Venezuela loss coupled with an an Argentina win over Chile would create a three-way tie for second place in 'Group A'.
The second-seeded team out of the group is slated to face Brazil in the knockout round. Brazil has defeated Uruguay and Paraguay in the tournament.
Romero Leads Venezuela Past Chile in FIBA South America Opener
CHACO, Argentina (June 18, 2012) - Former University of New Orleans basketball standout Hector Romero scored 17 points to lead the Venezuelan national team to an 86-61 victory over Chile in Monday's opening game of the 2012 FIBA South American championship.
New Orleans Hornets guard Greivis Vasquez led Venezuela (1-0) in rebounds and assists with six and five, respectively. The Venezuelan side led by three after the opening quarter before taking an 18-point lead into the half.
Chile (0-1) received 16 points from Erik Follert.
Venezuela will look to improve on their record on Tuesday when they face South American power Argentina. Argentina was slated to faced Columbia later Monday.
The FIBA South American Championship serves as a qualifying event for the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship. Following the completition of the FIBA South American championship, Romero and the Venezuelan team will compete in July for one of three available spots in the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Updates will be posted daily on UNOPrivateers.com.
